Fall Semester 2015-2016


August 10 - August 14

8/10: Teacher orientation.
8/11: Teacher orientation.
8/12: Handed out syllabus and discussed course expectations.
8/13: Covered Fact or Fiction worksheet in preparation for unit 1. Also, assigned students to a psychologist for a 2 minute presentation in class tomorrow. Student should indicate when the psychologist lived (or is still living), their academic affiliation, their area of expertise, and their major contribution to their area of psychology.
8/14: Started in-class presentations. On Monday, finish presentations and start Unit 1.

August 17 - August 21

8/17: Finished presentations and started unit 1 discussing Wundt and structuralism, as well as the Gestalt psychology, psychoanalytics, and behaviorism.
8/18: Discussed James and the functionalist school.
8/19: Discussed levels of analysis in psychology, i.e., cognitive, biological, social/cultural, psychodynamic, in discussing the cause(s) in the case of Andrea Yates. Finish the chapter tomorrow and review on Friday for Unit 1 exam.
8/20: Discussed the "big" questions in psychology. Tomorrow, finish chapter 1 and review for Monday's exam.
8/21: Reviewed for Unit 1 exam on Monday. Answers to practice quiz: 1(C), 2(E), 3(D), 4(B), 5(A), 6(A), 7(E), 8(C), 9(D), 10(D), 11(B), 12(C), 13(C), 14(A), and 15(C).

August 24 - August 28

8/24: Unit 1 exam; tomorrow begin chapter 2 (part of unit 1).
8/25: Introduced chapter 2.
8/26: In chapter 2, discussed intuition, hind-sight bias and overconfidence and how the scientific method in psychology helps avoid these biases.
8/27: Discussed critical thinking and viewed a TED video on thinking by Dr. Derek Cabrera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUqRTWCdXt4
8/28: Performed an exercise involving hypothesis testing and astronomical signs as predictive of personality traits. Also, handed out instruction sheet for carrying out observational studies, which will be discussed on Monday.

August 31 - September 4

8/31: Covered hand out over observational studies and assigned students to groups for the study. Also, gave students time in class to decide on their topic for the observational study.
9/1: Discussed surveys and case studies, randomness, random selection and random assignment.
9/2: Discussed correlational studies and the difference between correlation and causation. Also, assigned students a project in which they should find a recent psychology article and determine if it is correlational or scientific and how it is presented by the media.
9/3: Watched a TED video (can be viewed from last year's Daily Activity, 9/4/14) on psychological study of the brain and thinking about other's thoughts and discussed correlational studies about psychology as presented in the media.
9/4: Faculty retreat, no classes.

September 7 - September 11

9/7: Labor Day, no classes.
9/8: Discussed illusory correlations and experimental design. Continue in Chapter 2 tomorrow.
9/9: Presented descriptive statistics and assigned a practice exercise on graphing data (bar graph) and determining the mean, median, mode, range, variance, and standard deviation of the data. Tomorrow, inference.
9/10: Discussed experimental design, statistics and inference.
9/11: Discussed major questions in psychology.

September 14 - September 18

9/14: Discussed ethics of research in psychology. Tomorrow, review for chapter 2 exam.
9/15: Reviewed for tomorrow's unit 2 exam. Answers to unit 2 practice questions: 1(B), 2(D), 3(A), 4(E), 5(D), 6(B), 7(B), 8(E), 9(B), 10(C), 11(D), 12(B), 13(C), 14(D), and 15(B).
9/16: Unit 2 exam.
9/17: Started unit 3A by discussing phrenology and watched two YouTube videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQWn-QnEmEk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MO5429RjvM
9/18: In unit 3A, discussed neuron structure and function and neuronal activity in the brain. Watched two videos dealing with neuronal structure and function.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR4S1BqdFG4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob5U8zPbAX4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tbq-KZaXiL4

September 21 - September 25

9/21: In unit 3A, covered endocrine structure and function, including the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Utilized Khan Academy videos linked below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dS7bc_2bUE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dZpQJSSSAs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQKPvT-aEqk
Also, reviewed types of neurotransmitters and divisions of the nervous system. Tomorrow, review unit 3A and start unit 3B.
9/22: Reviewed unit 3A and started unit 3B by discussing analysis of the brain.
9/23: Watched three videos on the structure of the brain. Need to finish video on limbic system.
9/24: Finished video on limbic system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGxomKWfJXs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDlDirzOSI8
9/25: Also, started video by Steven Pinker on language and watched video on split-brain research.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82tlVcq6E7A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-B_ONJIEcE

September 28 - October 2

9/28: Finished Steven Pinker video.
9/29: Reviewed unit 2 exams and chapter 3B review questions. Tomorrow, start chapter 3C.
9/30: Covered writing final observational study report using ACP Chem lab report rubric, finished review questions for unit 3B and started unit 3C. Final observational study report is due on Friday, October 9.
10/1: Covered Fact or Falsehood introduction to unit 3C and watched the following TED video on end of life issues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apbSsILLh28&feature=em-subs_digest
10/2: Continued in Unit 3C and handed back preliminary data analysis for observational study.

October 5 - October 9

10/5: Discussed Minnesota Twin study as a method for determining genetic vs environmental influences on various behavioral traits.
10/6: Discussed evolutionary psychology and how behavioral characteristics have an evolutionary history.
10/7: Continuing with evolutionary psychology, watched a video with VS Ramachandran about mirror neurons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGKdh-3btkQ
10/8: Teacher meeting at St. Joe, no classes.
10/9: Reviewed for Unit 3 exam on Monday; final report on Observational study due today. Chapter 3 review questions answers: 1(D), 2(B), 3(B), 4(B), 5(D), 6(C), 7(C), 8(B), 9(A), 10(A), 11(C), 12(B), 13(E), 14(C), and 15(A).

October 12 - October 16

10/12: Unit 3 exam and Observation study due.
10/13: Introduced Unit 4 on Sensation and Perception.
10/14: PSAT, no classes.
10/15: Service day, no classes.
10/16: Discussed this quarter's project, namely a research proposal. The initial assignment will be to find a project idea and some background information about the proposed project. Students should also start collecting scientific articles for the next assignment which will be an annotated bibliography. The proposal idea plus background is due Thursday, 10/29. Also, today we discussed top-down processing and defined sensation and perception. Monday students will be allowed to begin search process process for a research project.

October 19 - October 23

10/19: Spent period searching for a research topic. Research topic idea with background information is due Friday, 10/30.
10/20: Reviewed Unit 3 exam and discussed research project ideas. Tomorrow, back into unit 4.
10/21: Discussed sensory sensitivity and selective attention and inattention. Continue with unit 4 tomorrow.
10/22: Discussed inattentional and change blindness, for which we watched the following NOVA video. Also, presented Fechner's research work on thresholds and his three methods for examining absolute thesholds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkrrVozZR2c
10/23: No classes.

October 26 - October 30

10/26: In unit 4, covered visual system and processing of visual information from the retina to the brain.
10/27: Talked about various visual illusions and started discussion of the auditory system.
10/28: Watched a series of videos about visual perceptual processes, i.e., trichromacy, form, object and face, and depth perception.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qaIsCOCdnk&list=PLjMNIgClz1keEWyQttCsmMZ2YDwQtSBo6&index=11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx4DrkPeBKI&list=PLjMNIgClz1keEWyQttCsmMZ2YDwQtSBo6&index=12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKH3-c3a9nA&list=PLjMNIgClz1keEWyQttCsmMZ2YDwQtSBo6&index=13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=689p1quLNDk&index=14&list=PLjMNIgClz1keEWyQttCsmMZ2YDwQtSBo6
10/29: Discussed auditory perception.
10/30: Discussed olfaction, vestibular, kinesthetic and pain perception. Unit 4 exam is Friday, 11/6.

November 2 - November 6

11/2: Discussed perceptual organization.
11/3: Continued discussion of perceptual organization, including figure/ground, grouping, depth perception, and perceptual constancy. Also, viewed the following videos for in class project on Escher tessellation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwm-yGCjOjU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=212XC1zfxXY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njp6yexWbfw&spfreload=1
Also, here is a link for testing your vision. Enjoy!
http://www.vision3d.com/
11/4: Finished chapter 4 by discussing effects of emotion and context on perception. Short discussion on ESP followed. Tomorrow is the review for Unit 4 exam.
11/5: Reviewed for tomorrow's unit exam.
11/6: Unit 4 exam.

November 9 - November 13

11/9: Worked on Escher tesselations artwork, due tomorrow.
11/10: Introduced unit 5.
11/11: Watched video from Ramachandran on "The Tell-Tale Brain: A Neuroscientist's Quest for What Makes Us Human," see 2014-2015 daily activity for AP Psych, dated 11/4/14.
11/12: Finished video and started NOVA video on dreaming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5lXITP2NKU
11/13: Continued with NOVA video.

November 16 - November 20

11/16: Students worked on their annotated bibliography.
11/17: Discussed inventory on sleep and dreams. Also, Unit 5 exam will be Monday, 11/23.
11/18: Finished sleep and dream inventory and handed out dream diary form. Student should keep track of their dreams for one week. Diaries are due next Thursday, 11/26.
11/19: Discussed various classes of drugs and their effects. Tomorrow, review for unit 5 exam.
11/20: Reviewed for Unit 5 exam and handed out practice problems. Answers are: 1(B), 2(C), 3(D), 4(C), 5(A), 6(C), 7(D), 8(E), 9(C), 10(D), 11(B), 12(C), 13(D), 14(E), and 15(B).

November 23 - November 30

11/23: Unit 5 exam.
11/24: Discussed research proposal.
11/25: Started Unit 6 on Learning by discussing an operational definition of learning and how we learn, discussing classical and operant conditioning and observational learning.
11/26: Thanksgiving break, no classes.
11/27: Thanksgiving break, no classes.

November 30 - December 4

11/30: Reviewed Unit 5 exam and discussed outline for research proposal.
12/1: Covered classical conditioning in detail. Tomorrow, operant conditioning.
12/2: Covered operant conditioning. Tomorrow, observational learning. Also, research proposal outlines are due on Friday, 12/4.
12/3: Finished unit 6 by covering observational learning. Also, viewed video about Skinner and operant conditioning in pigeons. Tomorrow, begin unit 10.
12/4: Introduced unit 10 on Personality.

December 7 - December 11

12/7: Shortened classes due to delayed start, so assigned groups of students sections in unit 10 they would present in class.
12/8: Group on humanistic perspective presented today.
12/9: Group on social-cognitive perspective presented.
12/10: Group on exploring the self presented.
12/11: Group on Freud's psychoanalytic perspective presented. Also, research proposal paper due today.

December 14 - December 18

12/14: Discussed trait theory of personality.
12/15: Reviewed units 6 and 10 for final exam.
12/16: Final exams.
12/17: Final exams.
12/18: Final exams.

Spring Semester 2015-2016


January 4 - January 8

1/4: Reviewed last semester's final exam.
1/5: Started unit 7A on memory.
1/6: Discussed information processing model of memory.
1/7: Continued discussion of memory and viewed film about working memory and started video on neuroscience of memory which can be found 1/15/2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWKvpFZJwcE
1/8: Finished neuroscience and memory video.

January 11 - January 15

1/11: Continued in unit 7A.
1/12: In unit 7A, discussed how and what is encoded into memory.
1/13: Discussed memory storage.
1/14: Started discussion of false memories and forgetting and started TED video featuring Loftus discussing false memories. Link to this video can be found under daily activities on 1/20/2015.
1/15: Finished unit 7A.

January 18 - January 22

1/18: MLK Day, no classes.
1/19: Plumbing issues, no classes.
1/20: Assigned lab groups and lab experiments for third quarter project. Lab ideas can be found on the following website.
http://psychology.about.com/od/psychologyexperiments/tp/psychology-experiment-ideas.htm
Lab proposals are due Monday, 1/25.
1/21: Started unit 7B by discussing thinking and the process of concept formation, problem solving and creativity.
1/22: In unit 7B discussed problem solving and covered the form of prelab for each group's psych experiment due Monday, 1/25.

January 26 - January 29

1/25: Discussed heuristics used in making judgements, as well as confirmation bias and belief perseverance.
1/26: Discussed fear, intuition and started language.
1/27: Started video of Steve Pinker on the Nature of Mankind.
1/28: Watched two TED videos on language and development and culture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2XBIkHW954
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImQrUjlyHUg
1/29: Reviewed for Unit 7A&B exam. Originally scheduled for Monday, will be rescheduled for Tuesday, 2/2, because Monday is schedule C.

February 1 - February 5

2/1: Students worked on their experiments.
2/2: Same as Monday.
2/3: As above.
2/4: As above.
2/5: As above.

February 8 - February 12

2/8: Unit 7 exam.
2/9: Started unit 8A on motivation.
2/10: Motivation; hunger and eating disorders were discussed.
2/11: Discussed obesity.
2/12: Discussed sexual behavior and next week's presentation on pornography.

February 15 - February 19

2/15: Presidents' Day, no classes.
2/16: Discussed Fradd's presentation on pornography and addiction.
2/17: Reviewed unit 7A & B exam and viewed two 60 Minutes videos on Homosexuality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3pvAk7Zz5U&list=PL6F4DB3C1F02DB232
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS6J_gg89ms&list=PL6F4DB3C1F02DB232&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGnZgC47SLA&index=3&list=PL6F4DB3C1F02DB232
2/18: Started Unit 8A.
2/19: Unit 8A

February 22 - February 26

2/22: Finished 8A and started 8B
2/23: Unit 8B.
2/24: Continued in Unit 8B.
2/25: Snow day, no classes.
2/26: reviewed for Unit 8 exam on Monday, 2/29.

February 29 - March 4

2/29: Unit 8 exam.
3/1: Introduced Unit 9, Developmental Psychology.
3/2: Discussed major issues in development and assigned three groups each a topic for research and discussion on Friday, 3/4.
3/3: Reviewed Unit 8 exam and discussed the format for the research topic discussion tomorrow.
3/4: Started "lot in life" discussions with the first being "a blind child."

March 7 - March 11

3/7: Started project presentations covering psych experiments conducted in class.
3/8: Continued project presentations.
3/9: Continued "lot in life" presentations.
3/10: Finished "lot in life" presentations. Tomorrow, back into chapter 9.
3/11: In Unit 9, discussed Piaget's theory in detail.

March 14 - March 18

3/14: Started presentations from Unit 9 by first discussing social development.
3/15: Continued presentations, discussing gender and gender roles.
3/16: Began outlining unit 9.
3/17: Continued discussions of Unit 9.
3/18: Teacher professional development, no classes.

March 21 - March 25

3/21: Continued discussions of Unit 9.
3/22: Continued discussions of Unit 9. Unit 9 exam is scheduled for next Wednesday, 3/30.
3/23: Watched two TED videos covering the adolescent brain and end of life issues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apbSsILLh28
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zVS8HIPUng
3/24: Finished Unit 9 presentations.
3/25: Good Friday, no classes.

March 28 - April 1

3/28: Easter Monday, no classes.
3/29: Review for Unit 9 exam tomorrow.
3/30: Unit 9 exam.
3/31: Worked on 4th quarter project, i.e., assessment of a government agency responsible for the poor and/or young.
4/1: Students required to turn in their choices of government agencies for the 4th quarter project.

April 11 - April 15

4/11: Introduced chapter 11 by discussing concept of intelligence.
4/12: Continued discussion of intelligence, including various types.
4/13: Continued discussion of intelligence.
4/14: Worked on project outline which is due tomorrow.
4/15: Project outlines were due and we finished our discussion on intelligence by watching a TED video as follows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vpqilhW9uI

April 18 - April 22

4/18: Continued in unit 11 discussing intelligence.
4/19: Unit 11 and announced that on Friday, students will take the short answer AP Psychology practice exam.
4/20: Further discussions on Unit 11.
4/21: Continued with Unit 11.
4/22: Part 2 of AP practice exam.

April 25 - April 29

4/25: Finished Unit 11.
4/26: Reviewed for Unit 11 exam on Thursday.
4/27: Started Unit 12.
4/28: Handed out assignment of "Defining a Psychological Disorder" and students worked in groups.
4/29: Continued work on "Defining a Psychological Disorder," and field day.

May 2 - May 6

5/2: Presentations on "Defining a Psychological Disorder."
5/3: Reviewed Unit 11 exam results.
5/4: Started discussion of anxiety disorders.
5/5: Finished anxiety disorders.
5/6: Discussed suicide presentation students attended.

May 9 - May 13

5/9: Discussed dissociative disorders.
5/10: Discussed mood disorders.
5/11: Finished Unit 12.
5/12: Started film, "A Beautiful Mind."
5/13: "Beautiful Mind."

May 16 - May 20
5/16: Started presentations on government agencies.
5/17: Continued presentations.
5/18: Presentations.
5/19: Finished presentations.
5/20: Started Unit 14 on Social Psychology.

May 23 - 27

5/23: Unit 14.
5/23: Review for finals.
5/24: Final exams.
5/25: Final exams.
5/26: Final exams.

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